Personally I don’t think the Emmy’s was the forum for her speech. I love her and the show but I tune in to the Emmy’s to enjoy seeing the people in the shows I enjoy win an award for their efforts, not political commentary.

Was she right in what she said? Maybe, I don’t know I don’t work in that environment, but I’m not interested in listening to political statements, from anyone, when I tune into an entertainment show to be entertained. I myself watch all the shows that were in that category and I think Taraji should have won.

As far as Nancy, she has the same right as Viola to express her opinion, right or wrong, but again I would want her to do it on the Emmy’s. How about you thank the people that watch your show, making the award possible, and move on.

Viola is being classy and keeping the focus on her achievement.

The media blew this up so HUGE and now she and NLG are permanently associated together which is the last thing NLG intended, IMHO.

NLG just said what she always says: speak up for women. Both want the same thing and love the same art form. Lesson learned. Let’s move on.

ILL pass on commenting, many overly sensitive people might misconstrue what im saying and take offense…lol

well,
she messed up bringing Harriet Tubman and her words into an acceptance speech..
She should have used her words thanks and honor and not brought heavy into it..
even if she didn’t know it it put discrimination in her acceptance.
Anyways, who cares.. It’s dumb stuff..
now days- bad/nasty twitter’s gives a public figure more air time more acknowledgment and a lot more attention.
It works great for Trump lol

Viola gave an amazing speech, and as a minority in this country where its still hard to be accepted whether your black, Hispanic are another nationality besides being white, I am agree with all she had to say, it was classy and down right the truth.

We all have to fight but the minorities have to fight harder and we should not have too we should be seen as equal.

Nancy repeatedly crossed the line with her tweets, which could also be considered “rants.” She publicly targeted politicians and religious groups. Her fans may consider her clever and witty, but many consider her tweets to be rude or offensive. Even her apology for the racist remarks were inappropriate. Well now she has finally gone too far and is deemed a racist. Words hurt, don’t they Nancy?

What is going on over at ABC? Do they have a publicist? You would never see Laura Wright in a verbal mess like this, but Bryan Craig, Nancy Lee, and now Ryan Paevey need help. Actually, we could add Maurice to the list with his comments at the GHFCW. Perhaps Jane Elliot is the smartest of them all…she doesn’t have a Twitter account.

NLG overstepped like she always does. She needs to be muzzled. ABC is a disgrace for letting her get away with it. It was Viola’s acceptance speech therefore she can say what she wants whether anyone agrees or not. This isn’t the first time NLG opened her mouth. NLG dudn tg gave to go on twitter and make h er opinion kniwn.

NLG didn’t have to go on twitter and make her opinion known. She didn’t just comment either. She went on and on.

Soap actors aren’t taken seriously enough but this show certainly doesn’t belong on Prime Time Television with those questionable scenes. HBO or Showtime maybe.

I am really surprised by the anger so many viewers have expressed about Ms. Davis’s mention of Harriet Tubman. Why are so many white viewers so offended by this? I am an African American myself, old enough to remember a world where our civil rights were not a given and had to be fought for. I remember as a child in the 1960s that we “Negros” considered successes on the platform of the arts an expression of our integration into and acceptance by white society: Sidney Poitier’s Oscar, Motown acts on Ed Sullivan, Dianne Carroll starring in “Julia.” We cheered all “firsts” because it was a signal to Negros (as we called ourselves) that progress had been made. White people may not think of these things as progress, because for whites they are the norm! For the whole of the history of the Television Academy the Best Actress in a Drama Emmy was given to a white woman. So, for whites, eh, no biggie. For the first time in 67 years an African American woman won. In her speech Ms. Davis was celebrating yet another milestone that reminds African Americans that we too are part of the polity. If she had used the speech to rant racist cant and damn white people for making us wait, I would understand your anger with her speech. With all the racism today, the shootings (of folk who wouldn’t have been shot if they had listened to the cops) and the hostility they have created from black and whites, what is wrong with an African American celebrating our inclusion in the realm of acting recognition? She was celebrating inclusion, not spouting race hate. For many white people Ms. Davis’s award meant nothing, yet they are angry that it meant something HUGE to Ms. Davis and to many African Americans. It was meaningless to whites, but big to blacks. Why is it so offensive that she marked what to us was a big deal: further proof that racial barriers have fallen? Isn’t this something that all good Americans should celebrate? Something good happening in the realm of race? And if you parse Harriet Tubman’s comments, they are about whites helping blacks make progress!!!! That was the point!!!!! It was racially inclusive and a celebration of one woman’s inclusion, which she took to be symbolic of a people. It seems that these younger generations have little grasp of history. In the lives of many of us still alive: we couldn’t go into certain stores, or ride buses where we chose, or be dramatic leads on TV shows. Ms. Davis was acknowledging progress in our great country, which was undercut by so many people angry that she alluded to the progress. As Americans, any sign of racial progress — no matter how meaningless to those historically unsophisticated — should be cause for celebration. Had NLG just waited one day to make her points no one would have cared. She unwisely chose to piss on a moment that… Read more »

Viola’s speech was PERFECT!!! She commented on her experience, and the experience of many black actresses in this country.

People who find a problem with her speech really make me laugh. These people also make me question their own morals and values. Viola commented on her experience and how it’s affected her in the industry. These same people who find fault in Viola’s speech by saying it “wasn’t the place” to bring up race issues — well, please tell me, where EXACTLY is the place to bring up racism issues about actors TO ACTORS, DIRECTORS, and PRODUCERS??? Where was she supposed to talk about this? Or should she have just acted like racism in the industry doesn’t exist? Should she have just shut up and said nothing at all? Just be happy she won and be about her merry way?

You know, these same people who find fault with Viola’s focus on “racism” would have literally PRAISED her in the SAME speech if she’d spoken about:

1) Gay Marriage/LBGT issues

2) The war in Iraq or anything about veterans

3) ALL women deserving equal pay OR ALL actresses over 40

Somehow it’s perfectly okay to talk about any of those things. Somehow, when it comes to those issues, EVERYONE should always speak up!!! Your voices need to be heard because you need to stick up for others when it comes to those issues. Well, who’s sticking up for people like Viola? If Viola didn’t stand up for the cause and plight of Black actresses getting the shaft, then who would have???

So that’s exactly what she did — because she could! She spoke about what PERSONALLY affected her because it was HER TIME to shine. She shouldn’t have to represent others if she doesn’t want to. And she shouldn’t have to say or NOT SAY something to ensure that others don’t feel “uncomfortable” about an issue that should be addressed.

Just complete LUNACY — Nancy Lee Grahn, and all the others who believe that ANYTHING Viola said was wrong! Gimme a break, and wake up!

I think that it’s time to let it go. Nancy Lee Grahn has apologized repeatedly, if you’ve never said anything that unintentionally hurt someone then you’re ahead of the game.

I’m glad Viola said something meaningful. Instead of rattling off a bunch of names (agents, publicists, etc.) that would go in one ear and right out the other with me, she gave me a glimpse of who she was as a person and what it took for her to get there.

I don’t think Viola Davis speech was out of turn at the “Emmys,” in fact in was due to Her Historic Win of the Emmy, for “Outstanding Lead Actresses in a Drama Series, “The FIRST Black Woman or Woman of Color to do so.” that lead to Her Speech. I think it was a classy & well thought out speech, that was based on the fact of Lack of Roles, especially Lead Roles on Tv (also Movies & other Media) for Women of Color. It wasn’t like she made a out-of-left-field, nothing at all to do with the Emmys Political Statement. As for Nancy Lee Grahn, Yes! she does has the right to freedom of speech, as do We all, but as with Us all that freedom does come with consequences if You say something others feel is wrong, stupid or controversial. I think what Ms. Grahn said was very self-centered, I think she was selfishly trying to put the spotlight on herself & her lack of work, like “Look at Me, poor pitiful Me & my lack of roles, etc…” Where as Ms. Davis’ speech was for & inclusive of ALL Women of Color & their struggle to get work as Actresses due to the actual & factual LACK of Roles for Women of Color. For NLG, to say that Viola, never experienced discrimination & was part of an elite group of actresses that isn’t held back by discrimination, was totally uncalled for & not based in fact. NLG, does NOT know what struggles Viola has or hasn’t experienced in her Acting & personal Life and it is NOT Ms. Grahn place to question or speak of Ms. Davis struggles or lack of. All Nancy Lee Grahn ended up doing by her Twitter comments, is come across as a JEALOUS BITTER BITCH!!

I want to scream everytime someone says let it go about Ms. Grahn’s twitter rant. Even though she apologized and deleted her flurry of hateful tweets, she went on and on into the early morning even after people let her know how vicious her comments were. She is not a young person and I would think she would have some decorum. Ms. Davis’ speech was for every person of color who finds it hard to find parts in Primetime tv. We will move on to the next thing, but I hope next time, Ms. Grahn will think before she tweets.

And another thing that bothers me about Nancy Lee Grahn’s comments — she acts like there are Black women ALL OVER GH!!!

Like there are LITERALLY more black women in lead roles on GH than there are white women.

Like NLG had to “fight” for the role of Alexis Davis because they were only auditioning black actresses at the time.

Like NLG had auditioned for MILLIONS of roles, but they ALL went to black actresses instead!

What in the world is this chick talking about??? Seriously, Viola has NEVER been discriminated against, but poor, sad, woe-is-me NLG has??? Gimme a break with her pure and utter FOOLISHNESS!!! I truly DESPISE people who are idiots — and NLG is, without question, an idiot. And she shouldn’t have a problem with that being said about her, right? I mean, free speech and all, right?

Nancy’s comments were completely inappropriate. Bottom line, this moment was not a only a big win for Viola Davis, it was a big moment for AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESSES. To say it should be about all women who don’t get recognized or acknowledged makes NO SENSE because white actresses have been acknowledged for their craft and have been awarded this honor for SEVERAL DECADES! This moment WAS AND STILL IS HUGE and for her to try to take away from it and attempt to negate this historical moment is very disappointing. One can argue that she is entitled to her feelings but to go on a public platform and share those thoughts?! I have to wonder, in light of her comments of feeling unrecognized, did she do it to get attention? If so, she chose a HECK of a topic. But if she did this simply for the reason that this is how she feels, then I am sad for her. It takes a lot of gall to not only presume but to say that Viola has never been discriminated against; to even comment on any black person’s experience is out of line because she will NEVER know what it is like to be an african american woman in the entertainment industry and most importantly this world.

It’s clear that Davis was mum on NLG because she is extremely perturbed with NLG and didn’t want to make matters worse. I will ignore the larger, more important, issue of race relations and dive right into social media.

Social media will lead to the downfall of society. Look at the tremendous backlash to NLG for her tweets. In a sense, I suppose that our interactions here at the Fairman site are a part of social media. Yet I have seen much divisiveness and harmful effects coming from FaceBook, Twitter, and their ilk. I was briefly on FB but left when I realized it wasn’t for me. Exposing such great detail about personal matters to a world wide web audience is dangerous. In a real-world setting, would any of us leave our home doors open for any and all to view and enter? If not, then why do so many do so figuratively in social media? And the reliance on social media in lieu of face-to-face interactions has psychological ramifications.

NLG used the twitersphere platform for her opinions to ill effect. We are all entitled to our opinions, of course. Any opinion is bound to alienate at least one segment of society. One can opine that the sky is blue, and there will always be those who disagree.

I posted a long post about this under the original column. Simply put…it was Ms. Davis’ speech. (Ironic that Nancy Lee Grahn plays Alexis DAVIS.) If Nancy had to post about the speech , it should have said CONGRATULATIONS ON A WELL DESERVED WIN. Nothing more. Mixing tequila and twitter is NEVER A good idea! I would like to coin a new phrase for celebrities who imbibe and then go to Social Media. TWIQUILA.

Nancy Lee Grahn’s tweets were so uncalled for really? Now she had to go back and apologize, which was good, but still, never been fan of her’s and never will. GH good luck with this actress on your show, well there’s hardly any minorities on GH anyway, so she want have to worry so much!

Anacarrie, Tristan, and Trophy Lady were excellent with their comments ; I can’t add anything to what they stated. Bravo ! Tremendous! Superb!

Food for thought…Everyone has their own way of accepting an award. Viola had hers, and I can’t say I blame her…certainly not on racial grounds. It was 75 years ago Hattie McDaniel graciously accepted her Academy award as best supporting actress in Gone With The Wind. She was incidentally the first negro, as she was called then, to receive one, in a segregated venue where her director had to get special permission for her to be admitted and given a table. Since then there has been Sidney Poitier, Denzel, Whoopi, Harry Belafonte, and others that have won awards, and continued to pave the way with more and more challenging roles. But always with other nominees and audiences over-whelmingly white.

And other actresses have been vocal about the roles available, and offered to women.

Nancy has a right to think and feel what she tweets about, but in this case the timing was all wrong. It was Viola’s night…her party.

NLG ‘s comments , Tweets, should have not her send button, if she had a 5-10 second delay, we would never know her thoughts about race, discrimination, women, equality……it would have been some other actor, actress, who would have taken her place in voicing the same or similar remarks. This usually occurs when there is an award show, and a “milestone” is or may occur. Hollywood, the Television Academy, has for a very’ very long time, failed to recognize gifted talented actors, because they put them in a box with respect to their gender, race, and the few people in the positions of creating roles, scripts, and opportunity for actors to do their craft, is because it’s a club that they create and control, because they can. The only reason why Meryl Streep, and Sandra Bullock can do what they do so magnificently is because they create and control their acting themselves, i.e, roles for movies. Jane Fonda is a genius, and a very talented actress, despite being blacklisted by Hollywood for years, and she found On Golden Pond, developed it herself, and had two of the best actors on the planet, her father and Katherine Hepburn. But it was her production company that produced that movie. Viola Davis knows the game, she is a class act that’s why she didn’t need to respond to the NLG tweets, bu the next award show the Globes…,it will fade from the news cycle, and we will be writing about who was snubbed by not being nominated…

I want to address what the article above said that Nancy Lee Graham asserted that Viola Davis was a part of an elite group of actresses that had never been held back by discrimination.

In 2014, Oprah Winfrey had a special on OWN where African-American actresses were invited to come and discuss their issues and experiences trying to get work in Hollywood. They also talked about how those experiences had affected them personally. The participating actresses included Viola and others who Nancy would probably consider elite.

After reading many of the comments on this page and comments on the initial article posted about Nancy Lee Graham’s tweets, I am understanding that the special that aired on OWN was not seen by a lot of non-African-Americans. If they had seen that special and heard the discussion among the participating actresses, they would have understood Viola’s speech. If Nancy Lee Graham had seen the special maybe she would not have gone on a rant the way she did.

I am not saying that Nancy (and other non-African-Americans) would have agreed with everything said on the show but it would have given them a better understanding of the perspective Viola was articulating when she won her Emmy.

I think this so called controversy would have never taken place.

Now I will tell you exactly how I feel about persons who do not like it when African-Americans speak about their experiences in this nation and tell us to “shut up” about it. I am tired of it. As far as I am concerned whoever does not like it can go jump into the hole of the nearest port-a-potty! I for one will continue to speak about the African-American experience whenever and wherever I feel it is relevant to the topic at hand. Anyone who does not like it can… You know!

I still think the reaction to Nancy is ridiculous..However, I don’t think she helped get her point across by stating her opinion that Viola wasn’t discriminated against. Perhaps she was at some point before she got on Times 100 most influential list or before her numerous awards including the Academy Awards, Tony Awards, Emmy….among others.

Still, I’d like to know how many expert witnesses here gave her a breathalyzer test whilst condemning Nancy and calling her a racist.

Before taking to twitter perhaps Nancy should have asked herself besides Debbi Morgan, how many African-American actresses have had the privilege to work in daytime for 30+ years? It seems Nancy has forgotten her own “elite class” including the likes of Deidre Hall, Susan Lucci, Katherine Kelly Lang, Kristian Alfonso, Melody Scott (I could go on and on and on…) It should take nothing more than a look at her daytime community to understand the need for diversity. If Nancy is such a champion for human rights and women’s rights she should understand and celebrate Viola’s much deserved accomplishment.

N LG made a mistake, she sounded jealous to me. I don’t think she meant to sound racist. I’m an African American I’ll give her a pass, people say stupid things sometimes.

Twitter and Facebook are pernicious awful platforms. That said, I applaud Nancy, and no, speaking the truth as one sees it is not racist. Like I said in another post about something different, this country now is about groups, which is the total antithesis of our philosophy as different people who choose a common set of values, liberty, individualism and hard work, not ethnicity or nationality. Being an actress in Hollywood and winning an Emmy are luxuries and privileges of an elitist few, many who aren’t any more talented than anyone else. People need to grow up and stop looking for reasons to be offended. If most people in this country alive today were here a century ago, we would have NEVER won the two world wars, and the world may not even be here as we know it today. Hollywood is a bunch of pampered elitists who have zero clue how reality works, so it’s very easy to spout off lazily thought-out ideals that mask our real problems of ignorance, laziness, self entitlement, apathy and lack of a work ethic and can-do attitude that made this county great. Now we’re a bunch of apologizing weak feckless crybabies laughed at by the rest of the world. That’s why I don’t support Hollywood and I only watch scripted programming in daytime serial format. Start preaching, and I’m done. Oh by the way, before anyone responds with some hateful liberal rhetoric, I’m gay, Catholic, white skin from European background, and dark features from my native American background. I don’t want to hear about victims. Everyone has been challenged. Accepting challenges and defeating what stands in your way, no matter what your background, is what makes us, as individuals great, because every single one of us is a minority. Mob/group/demographic mentality is primitive and un-American and un-civilized. Unfortunately, America is on that path that cannot be reversed, and I’m glad I’m over half way to the goal line, because an angry, offended, fractured nation of lazy-minded victims doesn’t appeal to me.